The training is harder, faster, stronger. We are harder, faster and stronger. Toby, Sam, Anna and I spar with each other, our fighting styles getting more vicious. I'm left with bruises the size of dinner plates on my body from training with Toby. He's tall, like me, with close cut coffee coloured hair, with dark brown eyes. His fists are hard, but mine are the same. We fight until our knuckles are bloody and our bodies are broken. They are trying to break us down and build us up again. To make us soldiers, to make us fighters. Our punches are punctuated by the sharp pop pops coming from the gun range, I can hear another instructor yelling at Sasha and Will, to keep their hands steady, to focus.
The day's draw further away from that small feeling of elation I had from the mission. I have never seen that USB stick since, but I can only imagine it's importance.
Anna is training furiously, and I feel sorry for Sam even though he towers over her. His golden hair reaches past his ears, his blue eyes dancing in his face. I feel a small stab of jealousy as I watch them move around each other, the fluidity and synchronisation perfected. She's smiling like a loon as she pounces on top of Sam, holding his body in place.
Again the pain in my chest, in my head. She's your best friend Arran, that one kiss meant nothing. You've probably been hit in the head too many times.
Right on queue Toby's fist comes flying into my jaw. My head snaps back and I'm left sprawling on the ground.
I prop my self up, leaning back on my elbows. Toby laughs at my expression and offers put his hand as an olive branch. I take it and he pulls me up again, clapping me on the back.
"You know, if you weren't checking out your girlfriend over there, this," He gestures at my face, " wouldn't have happened." He grins.
"She's not my girlfriend, I don't even like her like that!" I whisper, praying Anna doesn't here us. But she's too busy beating up poor Sam.
"Yeah and the sky's purple," Toby laughs. "Come on dude, we need to get this manoeuvre right before Alto gets back." I sigh and put my fists back up again, readying myself for another back breaking half hour.
~~~
"It's so heavy! How am I ever gonna hold that with one hand?" Anna whines. She's holding a standard G17 9x19 glock pistol, aiming it at the body target on the back wall of the gun range. She sighs dramatically, her hand drooping under the supposed weight of the gun.
Alto rolls his eyes at her show. "Well sweetheart, you're just gonna have to manage," Alto chuckles out. She smiles sarcastically and winks at me. It's then that I notice a mischievous glint in Anna's eyes, so subtle you could almost miss it. Key word; almost.
"Urgh, fine," She says grimacing, twirling the gun round her fingers. "Tell me where to aim."
"Between the eyes, in the balls and straight through the heart."'Alto says, grinning. I can tell he thinks she's not going to do it.
"Oki doki," Anna sing songs.
BANG BANG BANG
The four of our eyes widen, no one believing what they see. We are left speechless as Anna turns on her heel and hands the glock back to Alto.
"I think I can manage," She laughs, walking back into the barn, swinging her hips. I cough loudly hiding the blush that's crawling up my face as I watch her walk off.
"Don't stare too hard Arran, your eyes might fall out." I punch Toby in the arm, but say nothing.
Unsurprisingly Anna is the best marksman of the day, the three of us not even getting close to her shots. Alto doesn't force her to practice with us, as even he couldn't repeat Anna's round. Instead she's back in the barn with Cass, learning about all the cool weapons that line the walls. As I wait my turn for Alto's rigour out instructions on the best way to fire a gun, I watch her in awe. She's using a katana, and is moving through the air like silk. Her body is so graceful and elegant I forget she's fighting with Cass.
The zing of metal brings my attention back to the room. Their swords clash, grinding against each other, each girl trying to gain the upper hand. Anna pushes Cass to the floor, her face set in steely determination. Cass suddenly jumps up, and puts up a defensive position, her sword raised with two hands. She jumps into the the air, the sword shining in a silver arc aiming for the killing blow, but Anna parries with her sword, driving the power of Cass' swing back into her body. Cass is left flying through the air, back down to the ground. She grumbles under her breath and offers out her hand to Anna as a sign of truce. Anna pulls her back up, and gives her a quick hug, smiling. I can hear them laughing and talking, as Anna marvels at Cass' jump, but Cass saying how impressed she was with Anna's quick thinking and reflexes.
They go back to hand to hand combat, my attention being drawn away from the two girls fighting by Alto standing next to me. I slide a glance towards him and notice he is as raptured as I am to Anna and Cass fighting.
He looks at me and grins, "Got our selves some fire crackers!" And with that he hands me the gun again.
"You're up."
~~~
AN
Anna's so cool, amirite?
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Lots of love Tolly ✌️
YOU ARE READING
The Burning Girl
Action"Where the bloody hell has she gone." I hear someone scream. "Tom!" That must be Jim, I thought. Getting closer to the edge, I can hear a scuffle, someone thrown to the floor and another pinned against the hood of the car. The tension in the air co...
